1. Adopt: Your new best friend is waiting for you! From dogs to cats to rabbits and more, DCHS has a variety of amazing animals looking for loving homes. Maybe you want to snuggle up with a senior cat – after all, November is also Adopt a Senior Pet Month -- or you’re looking to add another chicken to your coop, our experienced Adoption Counselors can help find a great match for your lifestyle. Find your new bestie!
2. Donate: No amount is too small. Monetary donations give us the flexibility to meet the ever-changing needs of the various animals who come through the doors of DCHS and our Wildlife Center. DCHS received a four-star rating from Charity Navigator, ensuring donors they can “give with confidence” and know that the funds will be used appropriately. DCHS offers multiple ways to donate to make giving as easy as possible for you. You can donate online and use a variety of forms of payment (credit cards, PayPal, Venmo, Google Pay, Apple Pay, and Bank Transfer), send or drop of a check made payable to DCHS, make a gift of stocks, bonds, and other securities, support through a Donor Advised Fund (DAF), and more. Click here to see the various ways you can give. Donate today to DCHS and our Wildlife Center!
3. Shop: When you shop at DCHS Thrift Store on the West Side, 6904 Watts Road, or at our East Side location, 5231 High Crossing Blvd., both in Madison, proceeds go to support animals in need at DCHS and in our community. Shop gently used clothing, furniture, books, décor, pet supplies, kitchen goods, and more at some of the lowest prices in town. Follow the Thrift Store on Facebook and Instagram for thrifty finds, deals, and more!
4. Item donations: DCHS accepts unopened pet food and gently used pet items for animals, but also gently used clothing, furniture, books, home goods, and more to be resold at our Thrift Stores. You can also shop our wish list and donate those items. Taking item donations directly to where they are accepted helps us save on transportation costs and allows us to put them to use quickly. Click here to see what item donations are accepted and where they should be taken.
5. Stay in the know: Sign up for our enewsletter and follow us on Facebook and Instagram to stay atop of what's going on at DCHS, and share the information with your family, friends, and the community! For wildlife enthusiasts, sign up for their quarterly enewsletter (select wildlife) and follow our Wildlife Center on Facebook. For education news, sign up for their monthly enewsletter (select education). Follow our Thrift Stores on Facebook and Instagram for the latest deals and finds.
6. Support wildlife: Our Wildlife Center is supported 100% by donations. Donate today to support our rehabilitation work helping sick, injured, and orphaned wild animals. You can also use your skills to help support wildlife in our community. You can build a nest box for birds or squirrels, or create a pollinator garden. There are also a number of citizen science opportunities, including reporting on turtle road crossings and monitoring bats. Find your wildlife project!
7. Independent fundraising: Whether it’s hosted by individuals, groups, or businesses, independent fundraising brings a community together for a great cause! How can you bring your colleagues, friends, or family together for the animals? Host an event! Not ready to hold an event? Participate in an event. Find an event! And don't forget to check our ongoing fundraisers.
8. Sign up for a program: DCHS offers a variety of education programs for kids, including Camp Pawprint, DCHS After Dark, Camp WildSide, Scout Workshops, and more. But we also offer programs for adults and kids, like Service Days, Birthday Parties, Camp WildSide Family Camp, Paws & Pages Reading Program, and more. Camp isn't just for kids thanks to our Adult Camp Pawprint. Gather your colleagues, friends, and neighbors and participate in a Group Volunteer Experience. We also offer a variety of dog training classes led by certified instructors. There are so many programs to help you get involved with DCHS. Check them out today!
9. Join a Giving Society: DCHS honors the generosity and dedication of its supporters through three special giving societies. Constant Companions provide steady, ongoing support through monthly contributions. Members of our Directors' Council donate $1,000 ($84/month) or more per year, demonstrating a strong commitment to advancing DCHS’s mission of Helping People Help Animals. Finally, our Legacy Society celebrates those who include DCHS in their estate plans, ensuring their impact continues to benefit future generations. Join a Giving Society today!
10: Support businesses that supports DCHS: A variety of local businesses in Dane County support DCHS through sponsorship, fundraising events, or they foster one of our belly banks. One of our longtime supporters, Mounds Pet Food Warehouse, donates all the hard dog and cat food, along with cat litter, that the shelter needs. By supporting them, you're enabling them to continue their support of DCHS. Thank you for supporting our community!
11. Volunteer: We couldn’t accomplish everything we do daily without volunteers. They are the backbone of DCHS. The cleanings, the feedings, and of course, the snuggling. Volunteers, both in-shelter and foster families at-home, love our animals and our animals love them. Become a volunteer! Can't commit to a regular shift? We also offer Service Days, Group Volunteer Experiences, Paws & Pages Reading Program, and occasionally Community Volunteering opportunities.
12. Learn about DCHS and animal shelters: DCHS is a private, independent non-profit. We are not a government agency or part of a national animal welfare group. We have an adoption guarantee shelter, meaning all healthy and treatable animals can stay at DCHS for as long as it takes to find their loving home. Learn more about DCHS and animal sheltering technology and help spread the word.
13. Microchip your pet: Microchips and pet identification tags play a vital role in reuniting lost pets with their families. When these lost animals have a microchip or pet ID tag, there's a chance they can be reunited with their loved ones without ever coming to the shelter. Animal Service Officers carry microchip scanners to check lost animals for them in the field, and veterinary clinics can scan for them too. By ensuring your pet has a microchip and wears a collar with an ID tag, you greatly increase the likelihood of a quick and happy reunion if they ever get lost. For more information about microchips, click here.
14. Join the team: We are caregivers, family builders, support raisers and, most importantly, animal lovers. Join the DCHS team!
